Christian a



(No Model.)

A, RITTMANN STEP LADDER.

Pabentad Oct tries.

Aren't CHRISTIAN A. RITTMANN, OFISANDIJSKY; *QHIO.

STEP-LADDER.

: lEC FICATIQN'forming, part of Letters Patent No. 329,218, dated October 27, 1885.

Application filed December Il, 1884. Serial No. 50,057. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN A. RIT'r- MANN, a citizen of the United States of Amcri ca, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combined step-ladders and ironing-tables; and the same consists in the construction of the parts, as will be fully set forth, and specifically out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a step-ladder which has attached thereto a support for a platform.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention in a position to be used as a step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the dotted lines a m, Fig. 1, the lower portion being broken away. Fig. 3is a longitudinal sectional view on said dotted line a: a, Fig. 1, showing the ironingboard in position for use. Fig. -l is a perspective view showing the parts folded upon each other, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upper side of the platform.

A A represent the side bars of a ladder, which are rigidly connected to each other by the steps A, and the top piece, A, which projects on one side of the side bars, as shown.

To the under side of the top piece and to the inner edge of the side bars, A, are secured brackets B, which brackets are provided at their lower portion with perforations b, for, the reception of a transverse pivot-bar, b, the outer edge of this bracket B being provided with a recess or notch, c. The transverse pivot-bar I) is secured at its outer ends to the legs D D, to which legs are centrally pivoted the legs D D. The legs, besides being provided with a central cross-bar, d, have con-.

necting-bars d d d. A platform, 0, isprovided in its under side with hooks e e e e,

which engage with the bars I) d, so as to prevent the legs from spreading, and one end of the platform is cut away, so as to provide a reduced portion, 0, which, when placed in position, will be located between the brackets B B; and adjacent to this reduced portion is secured a rail or rib, c, which engages with a notch, c, in the Lricket. and will prevent the end of the platform tilting. The rail 0' in the upper surface of the platform, which engages with the brackets, not only prevents said platform from tilting when the hooks e c are in engagement with the cross-bars, but also prevents the logs from turning upon the .pivot-bar beyond the position shown in Fig. 2, and insures the steps and platform being held in a horizontal position.

In Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings I have shown the parts of my invention organized so as to be utilized as an ironingtable, and for this purpose the side 'bars near their lower ends are provided with metallic strip's E, which have upwardly projecting teeth f, which are curved toward the top pieces, A, of the ladder and rounded for the reception of the crossbar d, which engages with said teeth when the ladder is placed in a horizontal position.

G represents the ironing-board, which is provided on its under side with brackets 9, having open slots 9, which engage with the cross-bar d.

The ironingboard can be adjusted to different heights by placing the cross-bar d in the different notches.

The ironing-board and step-ladder can be folded upon each other, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to occupy but little space.

The ladder, when the parts are organized as shown in Fig. 3, may be reversed and used as a stand for washtubs.

I claim 1. In a step-ladder, the legs D l), pivoted to the upper portion of the side bars of the ladder, and having attached thereto by a central cross-bar the legs D D, in combination with a platform provided with hooks in its under side, for the purpose set forth.

2. The ladder consisting of side bars, steps,

and top piece, provided with brackets B B, as shown, in combination with the legs 1) D, pivoted thereto, and platform 0, having hooks attached to its under side and rail 0 5 on its upper sidefadapted to engage with the notches c in said brackets, substantially as shown.

CHRISTIAN A. RITTMANN.

VVi tn esses H. S. KELLOGG, CHARLES KESSLER. 

